Ridgefield 14U Team Takes Two Tough Losses In State Championship

Results contributed by Vince Ammirato.

Stamford 3 - Ridgefield 2

Saturday, July 16, Ridgefield’s 14U District Team suffered a tough loss in the State Championship Tournament in Waterford.

Playing Stamford in the first round, Ridgefield started Sam Sarath on the mound. Sarath got into trouble in the first when the first three batters reached base, but he got Stamford’s cleanup hitter on a comebacker to the mound and started a 1-2-3 double play.  He settled down after that and pitched into the sixth inning allowing only three runs on four hits, walking four and striking out one.  

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ridgefield got on the scoreboard first when Michael Latorre led off the inning with a sharp single to left and came around to score on a ground out by Wright Lindgren.

Stamford tied the score in the fifth with a lead-off single of their own that came around to score on a hit that followed a sacrifice bunt. 

Ridgefield jumped back out on top in the bottom of the fifth when Joe Ammirato reached on an error to lead-off the inning, was followed by a base on balls to Shane Murphy and a single to right by Joe Coyle that knocked Stamford’s starting pitcher from the game. 

With the bases loaded, Sarath hit a sacrifice fly to score Ammirato, but Ridgefield could do no more damage. Stamford’s big hit came in the sixth inning after two lead off walks by Sarath ended his day on the mound. 

Shane Murphy relieved and, after a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, the eighth hitter in Stamford’s lineup drove a double to centerfield to score two runs. Ridgefield only had four hits in the 3 - 2 loss.

Ridgefield 6 – Tri-County 10

And on Sunday, Ridgefield faced Tri-County in the first round of the loser’s bracket.

Ridgefield fell behind in the first when starting pitcher Michael Latorre failed to get out of the first inning. Six of the first eight Tri-County batter’s reached base safely and they scored five runs.

Shane Murphy came in to relieve with two outs and Ridgefield got out of the inning with a nice play at the plate to deny the sixth run. 

Down 5-0 after one inning, Ridgefield battled back with one run in the second when Sam Sarath led off the inning with a solid double into the left centerfield gap. He came around to score on a single by Murphy. 

In the third, Ridgefield plated five more runs to take the lead 6 - 5.  Wright Lindgren walked to lead off the inning, was erased on a fielder’s choice by Matt Mead, Joe Ammirato reached on an error, and Joe Coyle hit a single to left that loaded the bases. 

Sarath followed with a single to score two and Nick Manderlink crushed a double into the left centerfield gap that drove in two more runs.  Robert Fornshell drove in the last run of the inning with a double of his own. 

Tri-County tied the score in the bottom of the third with a walk and three consecutive hits.  They would have gotten more if not for a great throw from right field by Manderlink to Coyle that cut down a run at the plate. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Tri County scored four more times when Murphy got into trouble after the first out of the inning was recorded.  Tri-County had a double, three walks and Ridgefield made an error before Murphy was relieved by Manderlink, who ended the inning with two strike outs. 

The damage was done, though, and Ridgefield could not recover.  With the second loss of the weekend, Ridgefield was eliminated from the tournament.